Simple Tips for Writing a Thank You Note

Simple Tips for Writing a Thank You NoteWhen I was a little girl, I always used to receive a thank you note with a story attached to it. My parents would place the story inside the envelope, and then they would give me a small stuffed toy as a token of their appreciation. I've never forgotten how special that feeling.As I grew older, my appreciation for such treats for a child has evolved into an appreciation for the World Wide Web. It has provided new and improved means of conveyance that allow us to send and receive emails on a regular basis. While some of us still make the effort to write a thank you note, thank you notes are no longer the most common option for many people. How do we reconnect with the child in us that appreciates such gifts so much?There are several ways to make an otherwise mundane task in writing become both enjoyable and informative. First, do not think of it as writing but as conversation. Express your appreciation for the person's time and effort without pr essuring or becoming critical.Ask questions about the interests of the recipient and say something about his or her personality such as his or her name, hobbies, or likes and dislikes. It is also a good idea to keep the child's name in the message and to follow up in the future.Next, address the needs of the child. For example, if the child is having trouble remembering something, ask the child to retell the story about the gift he or she received. It may be helpful to have the child write the story himself and then to have the parent or teacher read the child's story back to him or her.Lastly, always refer back to the writing assignment at hand. By having a reference list on hand for the child to refer to when he or she needs to brush up on thestory, the thank you writing paper becomes a better presentation of the child's work. Better yet, it becomes a welcome addition to the family scrapbook!Remember that as writers, it is our responsibility to apply basic concepts and communicati on techniques to the most difficult problems. When it comes to the thank you writing paper, keep the same spirit and the same tips in mind as when you were a child.Writing a thank you note is something that should not be taken lightly, and it does require some more work than simply writing it down. Just as you must work hard as a child in order to impress your parents, so, too, do you need to work hard as a writer in order to impress your readers!